Taher Masri is a prominent Jordanian Arab politician, thinker and writer, with numerous noteworthy works, positions and activities at the local, regional and international levels. He is an effective activist with a profound interest in the fields of politics, thought, economy and society, as well asan active participant in various institutions and activities at the Arab and international levels that involve the affairs, issues, problems and challenges of the Arab region.
During a career in public service that spans over 44 years, Masri has occupied prominent local, Arab and international positions, including prime minister of Jordan (1991), speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives (1993-1994), speaker of the Jordanian Senate (2009), Civil Society Affairs commissioner at the League of Arab Nations in Cairo (2002), member of the Consultative Committee at the Anna Lindh Euro Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (2004), and deputy chairman of the Arab Thought Forum (2006), among many others.
Masri was born in Nablus in 1942. He holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas (USA) in 1965. He is married, has a son and a daughter and five grandchildren.
He started his practical life at the Central Bank of Jordan (1965-1973), moving into politics at an early stage, becoming a minister of state for the Occupied Territories affairs (1973-1974), a member of the House of Representatives for four sessions (1973-1997), including speaker of the House (1993). He was also an ambassador for Jordan in Spain, France,the UNESCO, and the UK(1975-1983), minister of foreign affairs twice (1984 and 1991), and deputy prime minister for economic affairs (1988). He was appointed prime minister and minister of defense in 1991.
Masri was a member of the Senate and its deputy speaker (1998-2009), and laterspeaker of the Senate (2009-2013).
He has occupied a number of important and prominent positions at the local, Arab, and international levels, including member and rapporteur of the Royal Committee for Drafting the National Charter (1990), chairman of the executive committee of the Society for the Protection of Jerusalem(1996-present), civil society affairs commissioner at the League of Arab Nations in Cairo (2002-2009), member of the Consultative Committee at the Anna Lindh Euro Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (2004-2006), member of the Royal Committee for Drafting the National Agenda and Chairman of its Political Committee (2005), deputy chairman of the Arab Thought Forum in Amman (2006-2016), chairman of the National Dialogue Committee (2011), member of the Royal Committee for Reviewing the Constitution (2011), member of the Royal Committee to Reinforce the National Integrity System (2012-2013), among many other noteworthy positions.
Masri has been awarded a number of Jordanian, Arab, and international medals and awards.
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Personal Website: www.tahermasri.com